A MOTORIST caught sleeping in a BMW in MIiford Haven town centre has appeared before magistrates for being in charge of a motor vehicle when he was over the legal alcohol limit.

Police officers discovered John Steele, 30, soon after 5.30pm on March 9 when he was asleep in his red BMW which was parked in a car park at Hamilton Terrace.

“The engine was running and the lights were on,” Crown Prosecutor Abigail Jackson told District Judge Mark Layton who was sitting at Haverfordwest magistrates court this week.

“Officers smelt alcohol, he was intoxicated and he was slurring his words.”

Officers were unable to carry out a roadside breath test as a result of them not being in possession of a breathalyser at the scene of the incident. Steele was conveyed to a police custody suite where two samples of breath were subsequently taken, the lowest giving a reading of 44 mcg.

Steele, who is employed as a machine technician in Selby, pleaded guilty to the charge of being in charge of a motor vehicle while he was above the alcohol limit.

He was fined £400 and ordered to pay a £160 court surcharge and £85 costs. His licence was endorsed with ten penalty points.

CHRISTMAS festivities turned sour for Haverfordwest shop worker Bryonny Smith after she kicked an on-duty police officer before attempting to bite her.

Police officers, including a firearms officer, were called to an address in Marble Hall Road, Milford Haven, shortly after midnight on December 27. There they discovered Smith, 23, hiding in a garden.

“She was escorted to an unmarked police car but she kept banging her head and tried to bite the officer,” Crown Prosecutor Abigail Jackson told District Judge Mark Layton when he sat at Haverfordwest magistrates court earlier this week.

“The defendant then kicked out at the officer, making contact with her lower right leg.”

Meanwhile probation officer Julie Norman said that the offence was committed after Smith had spent Christmas at her boyfriend’s home in Milford Haven.

“An argument broke out and things got out of hand,” she said.

Smith, of Fleming Crescent, Haverfordwest, pleaded guilty to a charge of assaulting an emergency worker by beating.

She was sentenced to a community order during which she must carry out ten rehabilitation activity requirement days and was fined £150. She was also ordered to pay £50 compensation to the police officer, £85 costs and a £114 court surcharge.

“Biting an officer and assaulting an officer is something that this court does not tolerate,” commented Judge Layton when passing sentence.

“If you come before this court again on a similar charge, you’ll get a custodial sentence.”

A HAVERFORDWEST man has been jailed after stealing two computer tablets from the counter at the town’s Mcdonald’s restaurant.

Asa Wandelt entered the Haverfordwest branch of Mcdonalds on April 7, walked up to the counter and placed a computer tablet valued at £150 inside his jacket.  CCTV footage then showed Wandelt walking out of the restaurant.

Once again on April 16 Wandelt returned to Mcdonalds and stole yet another computer tablet which had been placed on the counter.  Once again, he concealed it inside  his coat before leaving the restaurant.

This week Wandelt appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates Court where he pleaded guilty to two charges of theft.

Probation officer Julie Norman said the offences were committed whilst Wandelt was the subject of a post-sentence supervision following his release from prison for previous offences.

”He’s disengaged with services over the past few weeks and is not addressing his drug use nor his misbehaviour, issues” she said.

Ms Norman went on to say that Wandelt was recently evicted from the Silverdale hostel in Johnston where he had been granted emergency accommodation following his release from custody.  His eviction was the result of his behavioural issues.

District Judge Mark Layton sentenced Wandelt to 12 weeks in custody.  He was also ordered to pay a total of £300 compensation to Mcdonalds, a £134 court surcharge and £85 costs.